Winter Cod fishing....

Are you one of those anglers who dreams of good cod fishing? Well Cork Harbour does have great cod fishing during the winter months and can offer the angler a great prospect of bagging a good catch of cod! The Commodore Hotel has teamed up with Geary Angling Services to offer you the chance to target these cod. For an all inclusive price of €69 you can have one day's fishing with Donie Geary, skipper of the John Boy, and one night's bed & breakfast at the Commodore Hotel. You can upgrade this package to include high tea of haddock and chips and a pint of guinness (or beer/lager of your choice) for an all inclusive price of €85 per person. Now that's great value!!! This offer is limited to groups of eight or more and is available from October 2011 through to March 2012.

If the last two seasons are anything to go by then the cod fishing should be hectic. Cobh Sea Angling Club have held light line competitions during this winter period and in many cases anglers were catching 50+ codling a trip. Have a look at these reports to give you an idea: March 2011 and April 2010.

Admittedly, many of the codling have been in the 1-2lb range. However, a good proportion of the fish have also been in the 3-4lb range aswell. This year we expect many of the fish to be bigger again as there has been superb fishing on the offshore reefs for large cod over the summer. In fact, if weather permits

Donie may opt to try the outer reefs for larger fish. However, the beauty of Cork Harbour is that it can be fished in all weathers and many of the marks that have been producing over the last two winters have been in the Harbour itself.

Best baits for the fishing is undoubtedly peeler crab and lugworm. Mussel can also be effective. If the outer reefs are fished, then mackeral baited hokkai's are the best option.

If you and your group would be interested in targeting the cod then Mary Geary of Geary Angling Services would only be too happy to give you as much information as possible. Give Mary a buzz on 021-4812167 or email on seaangling@esatclear.ie, or alternatively, you can contact Mary O' Mahony on 021-4811277 or by email on commodorehotel@eircom.net. Don't delay, book today!!!